Developer Popcap and publisher EA took to their blog to announce and detail the upcoming update that is slated to hit for the recently released title — Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville!
The update is now live across all platforms and comes bearing with a bunch of new fixes and holiday festivities. One of the biggest additions thanks to the new patch is the inclusion of the Food Fight Festival!
Players who are daring to join the challenge will be rewarded with plenty of great gifts including emojis, gestures, costumes, and more. If players manage to reach the half-way point of the mode, they will earn the Super Rare Sprinkle Scientist; If players reach the end of the map, they will earn a Legendary Kitty Cap!
Check out the full set of patch notes for the latest Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighbirville down below:
Patch Notes
General
- Updated Matchmaking to prevent groups from splitting during auto-balancing
- Enabled guest accounts to play in split-screen mode with regular accounts
- Battle Arena:
- Downed portraits: Replaced skulls with character portrait downed state to better communicate team composition
- NIS gesturing: Players may now gesture during the intro NIS
- Increased earn rates
- Added Weekly Challenge progress info next to weekly event tiles
- End-of-Round Podium Updates:
- Better communication for boasts
- Improved podium layout
- Added physical station in Giddy Park to view your Challenges
- Improved friend zones at spawn points in Team Vanquish Mode Maps
- Tuned and improved Challenges to make them more balanced to achieve
- Scavenger Hunt! Do you like Pies?
- Added K/D ratio to Cool Stats screen
- Town Center Turf Takeover – Adjusted the mini game so it’s more fair for attackers (Pause Timer when zombies are controlling points)
- Improved line of sight Crosshair to be accurate at a distance
Major Bug Fixes
- Fixed split-screen issue where second player encounters a black screen and can’t join
- Updated Battle Arena issue where players got stuck on a black screen during round one
- Fixed the ultra combo perk after the player is revived by an ally
Character Balancing
General
- Added support for weapons that have homing to hit quest-related world objects (i.e. Boogie Traps, Walnut Blockade, etc.)
- Adjusted sniper aim sensitivity tuned for PC
- Improved audio for landing critical hits
- Sensitivity Option can now be set to nearest hundredths
Taking Damage & Mobility
- Updated logic so, instead of waiting for the next jump, there is an extended period where all jumps are reduced in height
- Sprint speed is now reduced after taking damage
- In-air movement speed has been reduced after taking damage, which now impacts characters who are goatified
Explosion Shockwave
- Updated travel time of shockwave damage to better match VFX explosion growth, which affects:
- Acorn Sap Trap
- Oak Super Sap Trap
- Peashooter Pea Cannon
- 80s Action Hero Bow Blaster fully charged shot
XP Event Assist as Vanquish
- Reduced damage requirement from 9/10 of victim’s health to 2/3 of victim’s health
Chomper
- Grody Goop:
- Ability icon now shows active state while gas is active
- Spikeweed:
- Additional check to guarantee victim is within proper range before being trapped
Night Cap
- Upgraded Fleet Footed:
- Fixed an issue with not being able to jump
Snapdragon
- Flame Blower:
- Improved projectile size and trajectory
- Flare Ball:
- Increased number of shots before overheating
- Swoop Slam:
- Updated ability camera to be easier to aim
Cactus
- Upgraded Alacrity:
- Equip cost reduced from 3 to 2
- Duration reduced
- Upgraded Sustenance:
- Fixed an issue with not checking that Garlic drone was alive to apply upgrade
- Upgraded Spud Spotting:
- Fixed an issue with spotting not being removed properly
Citron
- Peel Shield:
- Increased base ammo gain rate
- Movement speed increased
- Sprint now cancels shield
- Juice Cannon:
- Does additional damage at close range
- Spin Dash:
- No longer stops sprint
Rose
- Magic Thistles:
- Improved Homing target acquisition and flight
- Increased projectile range
- Arcane Enigma:
- Activating Arcane Enigma now reloads Magic Thistles
- XP earned from Arcane Enigma has been increased
- Jinx:
- Duration and AOE have been increased
Soldier
- Super Stink Cloud:
- Adjusted spawn location and trajectory to be better aligned with center screen
Imp
- Robo Call:
- Initial refresh reduced to 60 seconds
- Subsequent refresh reduced to 90 seconds
Super Brainz
- Ultra Flying Fist:
- Damage and range reduced
- Heroic Fists:
- Updated with faster speed and increased range
Scientist
- Upgrade Dolphin Blasting:
- Fire rate multiplier now functions as intended
Engineer
- Bullhorn Swarm:
- Reduced stun duration
The third entry in the series, Battle for Neighborville, brings a new fresh feeling to the game, while also staying true to the franchise. From reviews, it looks like Popcap managed to bring a fresh new feel to the game, however, as many reviews state — if you weren’t a fan of the previous titles, this one probably won’t change your mind.
It’s fun, colorful, and whacky, but if you’re not a fan of the series in general, Neighborville won’t change anything. Make sure to check out the full review roundup for PvZ: Battle fro Neighborville right here!
Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is now available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Are you excited for the third entry in the franchise? Let us know in the comments below!
